The number of new blood donors in the UK has dropped by more than 40 per cent in the last decade, leading to fears of blood shortages.

Health officials point to a number of different factors, including an increase in foreign travel and busier lifestyles. “People are working longer hours, commuting further, spending more time online and have less time of their own,” says Jonathan Latham of NHS Donor Services.

“Travel to more exotic places, tattoos and investigations such as endoscopy are [also] becoming more common and these lead to short-term deferrals from donation.”

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